Federal SSI benefits are paid at different rates depending on
whether you have an eligible spouse and whether you have an “essential person” (see §2110):

If you do not have an eligible spouse -
you are due the FBR of $674 per month in 2009 and 2010,
provided you have no countable income; or

If you are an eligible couple - You are due the FBR of $1,011 per month in 2009 and 2010, provided
you have no countable income.

Both of these rates are established in the Social Security Act,
and are subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA's). The
COLA increases the FBR effective in January based on the increase
in the Consumer Price Index. Since there was no increase in the Consumer
Price Index, the FBR for an eligible individual with no eligible
spouse and the FBR for an eligible couple did not change.